Sun blind



2 sheets-sheet 2 SUN BLIND C. PERKS ET Al.

eeddgeeeede Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES PERKS, OF LONDON, CHARLES lERNEST SHIELDS, OF OLIVE VALE, AND THOMAS GRAHAM MURRAY, OF TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND SUN BLIND Application led March 1, 1928, Serial No. 258,317, and in Great Britain March 1, 1927.

This invention relates to power operated awnings or sun-blinds wherein projection and retraction of the blind are effected by means of an electric motor.

5 The principal object of the present invention is to provide a compact construction of sun-blind wherein the motor and such speed reduction gearing as may be necessary are housed within the awning roller, removable as a single unit therefrom, and adequately protected against damage.

A further object is to provide a novel construction in which the roller-driving motor is assisted by a spring which substantially counter-balances the weight of the awning when being raised or lowered. The blind or awning roller with its enclosed motor and gearing may be mounted to rotate within a stationary blind box or casing while the free edge of the blind fabric is attached to a movable rail carried on conventional pivoted radius rods, or the blind roller itself may be carried upon radius rods and move towards and from the building protected by the blind.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a longitudinal section of a portionl of a blind roller constructed in accordance with this invention and Fig. 2 is an end view of the blind on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing it will be see-n that the improved blind roller a encloses within it at one end an electric motor l) and gear box o which are rigidly connected to one another. The armature shaft d of the. motor projects a short distance into the gearbox c and is there fitted with a worm e engaging a worm wheel f upon a cross shaft g which in turn drives through spur gears t a second cross shaft i bearing a worm j. A short shaft c arranged co-axially with the armature shaft d carries within the gearbox a worm wheel Z engaged with the worm j and its end projecting from the box is squared at k for engagement in a corresponding aperture in a drive plate m affixed to a wooden filling n within the roller a.

At its end remote from the gear box c the motor b is fitted with a cover plate o having a central stub shaft p having a squared outer end held in a bracket g, forming one of a pair, supporting the ends of the blind roller, the other bracket being shown at g in Fig. 3. A roller or other anti-friction bearing r is interposed between the inner end of the stub shaft p and the roller a to centralize the motor and support the blind roller. At its end remote from the motor Z) the roller a is supported in the bracket g and preferably contains a torsion spring S acting to counterbalance the weight of the blind in its rising and lowering movements.

The blind roller a may be mounted in a fixed position over the window, door or other part to be protected from the sun and the blind fabric connected at opposite edges to the roller and to a movable rail carried by radius arms in a manner well known in connection with sun-blinds.

Alternatively, the blind roller a may be mounted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 upon a movable rail s carried upon radius arms t pivoted to swing in vertical planes in brackets or bearings u on theface of the structure to be protected and one edge of the blind fabric v is anchored within a box fw which shelters the blind when not in use, the front and the bottom of the box being formed by the movable rail s on the radius arms.

The cables (not shown) supplying current to the motor extend through the hollow stub shaft p and connect with a suitable switch (not shown) for controlling the movements of the blind.

As will readily be understood the motor and its gear box may be removed as a single unit from the blind roller when required for inspection, adjustment, repairs or other purposes.

We claim 1. In a self-raising and lowering awning, an awning roller having a tubular end, electric operating means for said roller embodying an electric motor and reduction gearing both disposed in said tubular roller end and unitarily connected with each other for removal as a single unit from the roller, and slidably interfitting members on the reducf tion gearing and roller for establishing a positive driving connection between them, said members being disengageable upon withdrawal of said unit from the roller.

2. In a self-raising and lowering awning, an awning roller having a tubular end, an electric motor in the outer portion of said tubular roller end and having an inwardly projecting shaft, a lubricant-containing gear case in said tubular roller end into which said shaft projects, said gear case being secured to the inner end of said motor for removal as a single unit therewith, a roller driving shaft projecting through the inner end of said gear case, reduction gearing in said gear case operatively connecting said shafts, a driving connection between said roller-driving shaft and said roller, said driving connection embodying co-acting portions separable by outward sliding of the motor and gear case from the roller, and releasable means for normally holding said motor and gear case against such movement. 3. In a seltraising and lowering awning, an awning roller having a tubular end, electric operating means ior said roller embodying an electric motor and reduction gearing both disposed in said tubular roller end and unitarily connected with each other for removal as a single unit from the roller, slidably interfitting members on the reduction gearing and roller for establishing a positive driving connection between them, said members being disengageable upon withdrawal of said unit from the roller, a stub shaft secured to the outer end of said motor, a bearing for said roller end mounted upon the inner end of said stub shaft, and means connected to the outer end of said stub shaft for holding the latter aga-inst rotation.

4;. In a self-raising and lowering awning, a roller having hollow end portions, electrically-operated driving means for the roller disposed in one end portion of the latter, and a spring in the other end portion of said roller for counterbalancing the weight of the awning when being raised or lowered, thereby placing less load on said roller-driving means.

In testimony whereof they have aliXed their signatures.

CHARLES PERKS. CHARLES ERNEST SHXELDS. THOMAS GRAHAM MURRAY. 

